Tufts coach steps down

Tufts' last winning season was in 2007, when the
Jumbos went 5-3. Tufts was also 4-4 in 2006 and
2008.
Tufts athletics photo

Tufts announced football coach Bill Samko is stepping down after
17 years at the school. Athletic director Bill Gehling announced
that offensive coordinator Jay Civetti will coordinate the team's
recruiting efforts and offseason activities on an inter basis while
Tufts conducts a national search for Samko's successor.

Tufts was 1-7 this past season and 57-79 in Samko's 17 seasons at
the helm. Samko is 92-106-1 as a collegiate head coach.

This past fall, with 596 yards of offensive passing at Amherst,
the Jumbos shattered the previous New England Division III record.
Quarterback Anthony Fucillo set the NESCAC record for total
offense.

In 2009, six Tufts players were voted to the All-NESCAC teams and
three earned NESCAC All-Academic team honors. Three of Samko's
former players have coached in the National Football League.

"It has been my great pleasure to work with Bill Samko," Gehling
said. "He cares deeply about his players and remains connected to
them after they graduate, speaking with great pride about their
accomplishments outside of sports. We wish Bill all the best."

A graduate of Connecticut, Samko began his college coaching career
as an assistant with the Tufts' football and baseball teams. After
stints at Yale and Sewanee, he returned to Tufts in 1994.

"I am very appreciative for the opportunity to coach at Tufts,"
Samko said. "The lifelong relationships that I have formed and will
continue to maintain are very meaningful to me. I want to thank the
university for the fact that three of my children have gone to
school here. I'm looking forward to opening another chapter in my
life and pursuing other opportunities."